STEPHEN Ireland looks set to become the latest member of Manchester City's Academy to benefit from Kevin Keegan's decision to give youth a chance.

The 18-year-old midfielder has been a regular for the Reserves this season and will travel with the senior squad to Middlesbrough tomorrow night, as the City chief is eager for him to continue his education.

Ireland was one of five youngsters who signed their first professional contracts last month and Keegan believes that if he keeps performing to levels he has been, then it will only be a matter of time before he is handed his debut.

"I will put Stephen in the squad for experience," said Keegan. "I don't think he will be on the bench. He will travel and get to know how we work because although they train with us, they don't know everything what goes on.

"They need to see the meetings that we have and what we do in the video room when he show the players the opposition. But he has got a chance and maybe somewhere down the line, he will play this season.

"He is improving and the reason I like him around the squad at the minute is because he has got some invention in him. He is a different type of midfield player and is the type who can create something.

"He is still growing and has not got his full strength yet, but he has certainly got something.

"Since Shaun Wright-Phillips has come through and done what he has done, it has been like a domino effect.

"You touch one and all of a sudden the whole pack goes. You start thinking `he's alright and he's all right, too'. It's weakened our reserve side but then you look and see the Reserves are top of the league!"

As Keegan's men have enjoyed a fruitful last six weeks, so too, have the second string and the manager admits it has been a real boost to see the way Asa Hartford's side have surged clear at the top of the Reserves table.

"Asa's certainly got a bounce about him!" he added. "But it is great for the club. I don't know what other teams do, but we as a staff don't miss many games.

"If the games are down Birmingham way, Stuart, Faz and Tim will go or if it's up Newcastle way, Faz and myself will go. But we all go to the home games and we will be there unless we have got to go abroad to watch a player.

"That's really to say to the kids `hey, we're watching you'. It's important for them to see that we are interested and it shows Asa that we are interested in what he is doing with the younger players.

"Then when we work with them on the training ground, we can do that from a base. We know what they can do well but it also gives us the chance to tell them what we think they might be able to do better. That's how we work.

"I enjoy watching them because they go out and play properly. You may get the odd time when a senior player goes out and doesn't really want to be there, but that is compensated when the young kids show you what they can do."

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